Albertsons

BOISE, Idaho — Albertsons Cos. on Monday today appointed Jewel-Osco Division President Mike Withers as its EVP, retail operations. Withers will lead the company's East Region operations, while current EVP, Retail Operations Susan Morris will lead the West Region. Jim Perkins, EVP, retail operations Special Projects, is focused on targeted initiatives to accelerate growth. All three executives will continue to report to Wayne Denningham, president and COO.

BOISE, Idaho — Albertsons on Wednesday announced the promotion of one of its own to lead its store operations, supply chain, manufacturing, integration and marketing and merchandising. The company named Wayne Denningham, most recently EVP and COO, to the role of president and COO.

Bob Miller remains in his position as chairman and CEO, which he has held since April 2015, the company said.

BOISE, Idaho — An Albertsons pharmacy technician has become the first in the nation to administer an immunization to a patient. The new ability for the technician is the product of new law in Idaho brought about by a partnership between Albertsons and Washington State University College of Pharmacy, who worked together to develop the first pilot program to train pharmacy technicians to provide immunizations with permission from the Idaho board of pharmacy.

Albertsons is proving that the sum can indeed be greater than the parts. Following the 2015 merger of Albertsons and Safeway — both of which had long and distinguished records of providing health-and-wellness services — the combined company is continuing that tradition. It has expanded several of its pharmacy- and health-related offerings as it shares best practices across the company and introduces new programs companywide.

PAYSON, Utah — Two regional grocers beat all the competition in and out of their category in a survey of customer experiences across 20 different industries.

BOISE, Idaho — According to sources familiar with the matter, Albertsons is in discussion with Sprouts Farmers Market about a potential merger, Bloomberg reported recently.

The report notes that a potential plan could see Sprouts — a publicly traded company based in Phoenix, Ariz. — going private as an addition to Albertsons’ portfolio of banners.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Kmart earned the top ranking — a score of 84 out of a possible 100 — in the health and wellness/pharmacy category in the recently released American Customer Satisfaction Index “Retail Report 2016.” Kmart’s ranking rose from a score of 76 the prior year, good for a 10.5% year-over-year increase.